Cheers Dave, I was told by the travel agents because Feb is a better time to cruise and also better weather than November.

I wish more cruise lines would have itenaries like this one of Nieuw, they all seem to go to the same places and dont seem to mix it up much.

This cruise is going to Mexico, Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rico, Honduras and more, why do cruise ships go to the same places, i would sail Princess again if there was more on offer and different itenaries, they seem to only have Emerald doing 10 day cruises to islands I have been to.

Why not 14 days and why same islands all the time.

Sorry to moan on but surely as a cruiser you want to not go to the same islands all the time

The same ports are visited most often because of several factors: contracts with the local ports and tour operators, offering the same itinerary because lots of new cruisers want to see those places, some port facilities cannot handle more than one or two ships. Caribbean cruises are marketed more for first timers. Remember that most people have never taken a cruise.

The Caribbean is largely boring to me these days. I cruise there for the warmth and the ship. I'm spending two weeks on the Liberty Of The Seas this coming December and I may not leave the ship at all.

Holland America puts robes in all staterooms. I do not know the specifics of buying robes on HAL cruises. I do know that on Royal Caribbean and Carnival I've always been able to buy them and I expect HAL is no different.